Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) is celebrating the promotion of Professor Bettina Chale-Matsau from Senior Lecturer to Associate Professor (Clinical/Diagnostic) in Chemical Pathology, recognising a distinguished career spanning more than three decades of scientific research, clinical practice, academic leadership, and service to healthcare. Her appointment reflects SMU’s commitment to advancing excellence in teaching, research and innovation while strengthening healthcare systems across South Africa and the African continent.
Professor Chale-Matsau’s professional journey began in environmental and water quality research before she pursued medicine to make a more direct contribution to improving people’s lives. Rather than leaving science behind, she integrated her research expertise with clinical medicine, ultimately specialising in Chemical Pathology. Today, she serves as Head of the Department of Chemical Pathology at SMU and the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), where she provides strategic leadership in academic programmes, research, postgraduate training, laboratory quality management and specialist diagnostic services.
Throughout her academic career, Professor Chale-Matsau has remained dedicated to developing future healthcare professionals. In 2024, MBChB VI students recognised her as the Best Lecturer in Chemical Pathology, reflecting her commitment to teaching excellence. She has supervised and co-supervised numerous Master’s and doctoral graduates while continuing to mentor MMed, MSc and PhD candidates, reinforcing her belief that nurturing future researchers is one of the most meaningful contributions an academic can make.
Her research has made significant contributions to endocrinology, laboratory management, inherited metabolic disorders, and laboratory quality improvement. More recently, her work has focused on pathology-based point-of-care diagnostics, an emerging field that aims to make reliable, affordable diagnostic testing more accessible, particularly in rural and resource-limited communities. Through multidisciplinary collaboration, she is working to accelerate innovations that strengthen clinical decision-making and improve patient outcomes across Africa.
Reflecting on her promotion, Professor Chale-Matsau said, “This promotion represents an opportunity to contribute even more meaningfully to research, postgraduate education and healthcare. I hope to inspire young scientists and clinicians to pursue research that addresses the health challenges facing our communities while ensuring that laboratory medicine remains at the centre of evidence-based patient care.”
Looking ahead, Professor Chale-Matsau aims to establish a nationally recognised programme in pathology diagnostics that advances biomarker discovery, point-of-care technologies, laboratory quality systems and translational research. She envisions strengthening collaborations across disciplines and institutions to position SMU as a leader in developing innovative diagnostic technologies that improve equitable access to healthcare throughout South Africa and beyond.
Her growing national and international profile is reflected in leadership roles within professional bodies, editorial responsibilities for the African Journal of Laboratory Medicine, invited presentations at international conferences and a sustained record of scientific publication and postgraduate supervision. These achievements underscore her commitment to advancing laboratory medicine while fostering excellence among emerging researchers and clinicians.
Professor Chale-Matsau said her promotion carries responsibilities beyond personal achievement. “I see this as an opportunity to strengthen research, mentor future leaders and contribute to healthcare solutions that improve lives. Innovation in pathology diagnostics has the potential to transform healthcare delivery, particularly for underserved communities.” This vision aligns with SMU’s mission of transforming health services through excellence in education, research and innovation, reinforcing the University’s role in producing knowledge that addresses national and continental health priorities.
By Tumelo Moila
